Why Oviedo?
Immerse yourself in Oviedo—the cultural, commercial and administrative hub of Asturias, located just 20 miles from the beautiful Bay of Biscay. You will take classes at the Universidad de Oviedo, one of the top universities in Spain. As a university city with so much history, Oviedo offers:
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A wonderful setting to further develop and refine your language skills. With relatively few English-speaking visitors, you will be able to truly immerse yourself in the Spanish language.
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A city large enough to host a full calendar of events (including festivals, museum exhibits, concerts, and sporting events), yet small enough to see familiar faces as you walk through town.
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Awe-inspiring natural vistas and endless opportunities for getting out into nature, with the Cantabrian Sea to the north and the Picos de Europa to the south.
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An array of architectural styles, from Pre-Romanesque to Gothic to Baroque, attesting to the city’s integration of a variety of cultures.
- Lively and modern, but also boasts an impressive old-town center, museums, libraries and significant historic sites
Beyond Oviedo
In addition to life in Oviedo, nearby coastal cities such as Gijón and Avilés provide you with further opportunities for exploration and learning about local culture.
- Gijón, the largest city in Asturias and one of the region’s main tourist destinations, features busy beaches, museums, a marina, and frequent cultural events.
- Avilés is close to some of the most beautiful beaches in the region, and its medieval quarter has been named a site of historic artistic heritage. It is also home to the Centro Niemeyer, a cultural venue attracting music, theater, and dance performances; films; and exhibitions from around the world.
The Asturias Region
Oviedo is located in the province of Asturias, which boasts a population of over one million and sits in the far northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. Nestled between the Cantabrian Sea to the north, and the Cantabrian mountain chain to the south, Asturias is often called a “natural paradise,” with high mountains, inland sierras, valleys, meadows and woodlands, and a rugged coastal area with cliffs, beaches and river estuaries. Asturias features an Atlantic climate, with mild temperatures and abundant rainfall year round. The origins of Asturian culture trace back to ancient times, with prehistoric cave paintings, Celtic settlements, Roman baths, and Romanesque and Gothic monuments.